Sensor mount

ABSTRACT

According to at least one aspect, a monolithic sensor mount can include a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion. The first cylindrical portion can have a first diameter and the second cylindrical portion can have a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The second cylindrical portion defining a recess region to host an ultrasonic transducer. The second cylindrical portion can have an outer surface that defines a male thread to mechanically engage a female thread of a cavity within a fluid flow tube configured to host the sensor mount.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation bypass of and claims priority toInternational Application No. PCT/US2018/016486, filed Feb. 1, 2018,entitled “SENSOR MOUNT”, all of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

In dwellings, residential buildings, work offices, public buildings,factories, or farms, fluid flow meters can allow for monitoring fluidflow rate or cumulative fluid usage. Also, shut-off valves can beemployed to control (e.g., allow or block) fluid flow through one ormore branches of a fluid distribution system. Integrating a smart fluidflow meter and a shut-off valve in a single plumbing device can allowfor intelligent monitoring, management, or control of fluid flow to, orfrom, a given branch of the fluid distribution system. Also, electroniccomponents such as microprocessors coupled to the fluid flow meter andthe shut of valve can allow for accurate measurements of fluid flowrate, remote or autonomous control of the shut-off valve, leakdetection, communicating measurements to remote electronic devices, or acommunication thereof. For example, a processor can detect a leak eventby analyzing flow rate values measured by the fluid flow meter, andautomatically actuating the shut-off valve to avoid fluid waste,property damages, or hazardous incidents (e.g., potential fire duenatural gas leak).

SUMMARY

According to at least one aspect, a fluid flow tube can define a firstcavity for receiving a first ultrasonic sensor. The first cavity canhave a first longitudinal axis intersecting a longitudinal axis of thefluid flow tube. The fluid flow tube can define a second cavity forreceiving a second ultrasonic sensor. The second cavity can have asecond longitudinal axis aligned with the first longitudinal axis. Thefluid flow tube can define a third cavity having a first transversecross sectional area larger than a second transverse cross sectionalarea of the fluid flow tube and sized to receive a shut-off valve.

The fluid flow tube can be made of at least one of brass, copper,stainless steel, plastic, or an engineered composite material. The thirdcavity can be defined by a hollow structure to enclose the shut-offvalve. The hollow structure can include an opening to receive a stem ofthe shut-off valve. The hollow structure can include one or more groovesfor engaging one or more elements of a housing of the fluid flow tube orreceiving mechanical coupling components to mechanically couple thefluid flow tube to the housing. The hollow structure can have acylindrical shape or a spherical shape.

The fluid flow tube can include a first tubular structure defining alumen that is connected to the first cavity, the second cavity, and thethird cavity. The lumen can be associated with the second transversecross sectional area. The first cavity can be defined by a secondtubular structure extending beyond an outer surface of the first tubularstructure, and the second cavity can be defined by a second tubularstructure extending beyond the outer surface of the first tubularstructure. The first tubular structure can include at least one boreholefor hosting at least one sensor or electric couplings to the at leastone sensor. The at least one borehole can include at least one of aborehole for hosting a pressure sensor or a borehole for hosting athermocouple.

The first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis canintersect the longitudinal axis of the fluid flow tube at an angle about45 degrees. The fluid flow tube can include a thread at a respective endto engage a pipe or a fitting.

According to at least one other aspect, a plumbing device can include afluid flow tube and a fitting engaging the fluid flow tube at a firstend of the fluid flow tube. The fluid flow tube can define a firstcavity having a first longitudinal axis for receiving a first ultrasonicsensor. The first longitudinal axis can intersect a longitudinal axis ofthe fluid flow tube. The fluid flow tube can define a second cavity forreceiving a second ultrasonic sensor. The second cavity can have asecond longitudinal axis aligned with the first longitudinal axis. Thefluid flow tube can define a third cavity having a diameter larger thana diameter of the fluid flow tube and sized to receive a shut-off valve.

The plumbing device can include the shut-off valve. The shut-off valvecan be enclosed within a hollow structure defining the third cavity. Theplumbing device can include a motor to impart motion to the shut-offvalve. The plumbing device can also include a stem mechanically couplingthe shut-off valve to the motor. The stem can be arranged to passthrough a borehole of the hollow structure. The plumbing device caninclude a control circuit board for actuating the motor.

The plumbing device can include a first sensor mount arranged within thefirst cavity and a second sensor mount arranged within the secondcavity. The first sensor mount can include a first recess hosting thefirst ultrasonic sensor. The second sensor mount can include a secondrecess hosting the second ultrasonic sensor. The plumbing device caninclude a control circuit board for exchanging signals with the firstand second ultrasonic sensors.

The plumbing device can include one or more sensors and a sensorinterface board electrically coupled to the one or more sensors. The oneor more sensors can be arranged within one or more boreholes of atubular structure defining a lumen of the fluid flow tube. The one ormore sensors can include at least one of a pressure sensor or athermocouple arranged. The plumbing device can include a housingenclosing the fluid flow tube. The fitting can include a push-to-connectfitting or a fitting engaging the fluid flow tube through a thread.

According to at least one other aspect, a monolithic sensor mount caninclude a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion.The first cylindrical portion can have a first diameter and the secondcylindrical portion can have a second diameter larger than the firstdiameter. The second cylindrical portion defining a recess region tohost an ultrasonic transducer. The second cylindrical portion can havean outer surface that defines a male thread to mechanically engage afemale thread of a cavity within a fluid flow tube configured to hostthe sensor mount.

A wall structure surrounding the recess region can include groves tomechanically engage a screw driver. A depth of the grooves can besmaller than a difference between a depth of the recess region and athickness of the ultrasonic transducer. The recess region can form ahexagonal socket sized to match an Allen key. The monolithic sensormount can be made of plastic. The monolithic sensor mount can be made ofmade of polyvinylchloride (PVC) or polysulfone (PSU).

The first diameter can be smaller than a diameter of the cavity withinthe fluid flow tube configured to host the sensor mount. A length of thefirst cylindrical portion can be larger than a depth of the cavitywithin the fluid flow tube configured to host the sensor mount. Anend-face surface of the first cylindrical portion can be a flat circulararea. The end-face surface of the first cylindrical portion can have aconcave structure.

The first cylindrical portion can include a first sub-portion and asecond sub-portion. The second sub-portion can have a diameter smallerthan a diameter of the first sub-portion. The first sub-portion can bearranged between the second sub-portion and the second cylindricalportion.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be inany way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments,and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and featureswill become apparent by reference to the following drawings and thedetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosedtechnology and together with the description serve to explain principlesof the disclosed technology.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a fluid flow tube 100, according toexample embodiments of the current disclosure;

FIGS. 2A-2C show perspective and sectional views of a plumbing device,according to example embodiments of the current disclosure;

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a perspective view and a bottom view, respectively,of another plumbing device, according to example embodiments of thecurrent disclosure;

FIGS. 4A and 4B-4C show a perspective view and two sectional views,respectively, of yet another plumbing device, according to other exampleembodiments of the current disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a respective view of an ensemble of components forming aplumbing device, according to example embodiments of the currentdisclosure.

FIGS. 6A-6C show diagrams illustrating probability distributions foraverage water flow rates associated with a plurality of fixtures orappliances in a house or building.

FIGS. 7A-7C show various views of a sensor mount, according to exampleembodiments of the current disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Following below are more detailed descriptions of various conceptsrelated to, and embodiments of, inventive plumbing devices and fluidflow tubes for hosting a flow meter and a shut-off valve. Also providedare detailed descriptions of inventive methods of assembling theplumbing devices. The various concepts introduced above and discussed ingreater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as thedisclosed concepts are not limited to any particular manner ofimplementation. Examples of specific implementations and applicationsare provided primarily for illustrative purposes.

In a building, home, factory, or field of operation, a fluiddistribution system can be sourced by a single supply line (or mainpipe). Placing a fluid flow monitoring system coupled to such supplyline (for example placed at the head of the supply line) can allow formonitoring the fluid flow rate and/or fluid usage by the fluiddistribution system. For instance, based on measured fluid flow ratevalues, a fluid flow meter can compute or determine the total volume offluid passing through the supply line head into the fluid distributionsystem. Also, using a shut-off valve with the fluid flow meter can allowfor automatic and/or proactive control of fluid flow especially when afluid leak event, a frozen pipe event or other undesired event isdetected.

Combining a fluid low meter and a shut-off valve can be technicallychallenging in various ways. First, integrating a fluid flow meter and ashut-off valve in separate fluid flow tubes that are mechanicallycoupled to each other can increase the likelihood of a potential leak atthe joint between both fluid flow tubes. Such potential leak may not bedetectable or preventable. For example, if the joint between both fluidflow tubes is arranged upstream of the fluid flow meter and downstreamof the shut-off valve, the fluid flow meter may not be able to detectleaks through the joint. However, if the joint between both fluid flowtubes is arranged downstream of the fluid flow meter and upstream of theshut-off valve, the shut-off valve cannot stop leaks through the joint.Also, using two separate fluid flow tubes can lead to increased size andmore complex installation procedure of the system combining both thefluid flow meter and the shut-off valve. A large size of the fluid flowmonitoring system can limit choices with respect to locations where thesystem combining both the fluid flow meter and the shut-off valve can beinstalled within the fluid distribution system. In addition, the use oftwo separate fluid flow tubes would suggest that an accurate calibrationof the fluid flow meter is to be performed while both fluid flow tubesare connected to each other.

Second, even when using a single fluid flow tube to host both the fluidflow meter and the shut-off valve, several considerations are to betaken into account, for example, with regard to the type and positioningor arrangement of the fluid flow meter. For instance, using ultrasonicsensors/transducers can allow for accurate measuring of fluid flow ratewhen proper calibration is performed. Also, ultrasonicsensors/transducers can be integrated with the fluid flow meteraccording to an invasive or a non-invasive arrangement. On one hand,non-invasive installation is usually simpler and does not involvesubstantial plumbing, if any, but usually involves multipath signalpropagation (e.g., propagation paths through the fluid and through thefluid tube wall) which can affect system accuracy. On the other hand,invasive installation of the ultrasonic sensors/transducers usuallyinvolves significant plumbing but can avoid or mitigate multipath signalpropagation. Also, invasive installation of ultrasonicsensors/transducers may increase the likelihood of system failure asincreased fluid pressure can displace the ultrasonicsensors/transducers. Furthermore, using sensor mounts that host theultrasonic sensors/transducers and that are interfering with fluid flowcan affect measured fluid flow parameter values (such as fluid flowspeed or fluid flow rate).

Systems, devices, and methods described herein allow for a monolithicfluid flow tube capable of hosting both ultrasonic transducers and ashut-off valve. The fluid flow tube can include a primary tubularstructure defining a lumen and two secondary tubular structuresextending at an angle from an outer surface of the main tubularstructure. The two secondary tubular structures can receive sensormounts that are arranged to host ultrasonic sensors/transducers. The twosecondary tubular structures can be arranged opposite to, and alignedwith, one another to allow ultrasonic signals to travel along straightpaths between the ultrasonic sensors/transducers. The main tubularstructure can have a wide portion for hosting the shut-off valve.

Arranging sensor mounts within the secondary tubular structures allowsfor an efficient invasive arrangement of ultrasonic sensors/transducers.Specifically, as arranged, the sensor mounts do not substantiallyinterfere with fluid flow, which mitigates the likelihood of sensormount displacement. Also, sensor mounts can be designed to havetransverse cross sectional areas smaller than interior transverse crosssectional areas of the secondary tubular structures to avoid or mitigateultrasonic signal propagation through the wall of the fluid flow tube.Also, the sensor mounts can be sized to fill the cavities defined by thesecondary tubular structures without substantially intruding into (orinterfering with) fluid flow in the lumen, or forming recess regions.Recess regions within the lumen can lead to residuum accumulation, whichcan affect fluid flow rate measurements.

Embodiments described herein also relate to a plumbing device includingthe fluid flow tube and a fitting to engage the fluid flow tube. Theplumbing device can include the sensor mounts, the shut-off valve, theultrasonic sensors/transducers, a motor for operating the shut-offvalve, electronic circuitry for controlling the ultrasonicsensors/transducers and the shut-off valve, a housing, or a combinationthereof.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a fluid flow tube 100, according toexample embodiments of the current disclosure. The fluid flow tube 100can be a monolithic tubular apparatus, for example, for use in aplumbing systems. The fluid flow tube 100 can include a first tubularsegment (or tubular structure) 102 defining a lumen 104 for fluid flow.As used herein, a lumen is a fluid flow cavity (or a fluid flow chamber)acting as a fluid channel within a tube for conveying fluid. The fluidflow tube 100 can include a first cavity 106 defined by a second tubularsegment (or tubular structure) 108, and a second cavity 110 defined by athird tubular segment (or tubular structure) 112. The fluid flow tube100 can include a third cavity 114 defined by a fourth tubular segment(or tubular structure) 116. The fourth tubular segment 116 can includean opening 118 and one or more holes (or grooves) 120 a-c (also referredto herein individually or collectively as hole(s) 120).

The lumen 104 or the first tubular segment 102 can have a cylindricalshape. In some implementations, the lumen 104 or the first tubularsegment 102 can have another shape. For example, the transverse crosssectional area of the lumen 104 or transverse cross sectional area offirst tubular segment 102 can have an elliptical shape (ellipse), squareshape, rectangular shape, pentagonal shape, hexagonal shape, octagonalshape, or some other shape. The lumen 104 can be connected to the firstcavity 106, the second cavity 110, and the third cavity 114. Forinstance, the lumen 104, the first cavity 106, the second cavity 110,and the third cavity 114 can form a continuous hollow space within thefluid flow tube 100. The fluid flow tube 100 can be made of brass,copper, stainless steel, or plastic (e.g., acrylonitrile ButadieneStyrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride(CPVC), cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), or other type of plastic). Thefluid flow tube 100 can be made of an engineered composite material,such as glass-reinforced plastic. The fluid flow tube 100 can bemanufactured using molding, welding, three-dimensional (3D) printing,another manufacturing process known in the art, or a combinationthereof.

The first cavity 106 can receive a first ultrasonic sensor (not shown inFIG. 1) and can have a corresponding longitudinal axis 124 intersectinga longitudinal axis 122 of the lumen 104. The first cavity 106 canreceive a first sensor mount (not shown in FIG. 1) for hosting, or thathosts, the first ultrasonic sensor. The second tubular segment 108 canbe a cylindrical structure (or some other tubular structure) extendingbeyond the outer surface of the first tubular segment 102. Thelongitudinal axis 126 of the first cavity 106 (or of the second tubularsegment 108) can be at a predefined angle with respect to thelongitudinal axis 122 of the lumen 104. For instance, the longitudinalaxis 124 of the first cavity 106 (or of the second tubular segment 108)can be at a 75° angle, 60° angle, 45° angle, 30° angle, 15° angle, orsome other angle less than or equal to 90° with respect to thelongitudinal axis 122 of the lumen 104. While the first cavity 106 andthe second tubular segment 108 are shown to have a cylindrical shape,the transverse cross sectional area of the first cavity 106 or thetransverse cross sectional area of the second tubular segment 108 canhave a square shape, rectangular shape, pentagonal shape, hexagonalshape, octagonal shape, elliptical shape (ellipse), or some other shape.

Similar to the first cavity 106, the second cavity 110 defined by thethird tubular segment 112 can receive a second ultrasonic sensor (notshown in FIG. 1) and can have a corresponding longitudinal axis 126intersecting the longitudinal axis 122 of the lumen 104. The secondcavity 106 can receive a second sensor mount (not shown in FIG. 1) forhosting, or that hosts, the second ultrasonic sensor. The third tubularsegment 112 can be a cylindrical structure (or some other tubularstructure) extending beyond the outer surface of the first tubularsegment 102. The longitudinal axis 126 of the second cavity 110 (or ofthe third tubular segment 112) can be aligned (or substantially aligned)with the longitudinal axis 124 of the second cavity 106. Consideringfault tolerance when manufacturing the fluid flow tube 100, thelongitudinal axis 126 of the second cavity 108 (or of the third tubularsegment 110) and the longitudinal axis 124 of the second cavity 106 maynot be perfectly aligned (e.g., may be at an angle between 178° and180°, or some other tolerable angle range, with respect to each other).Similar to the first cavity 106, the transverse cross sectional area ofthe second cavity 110 (or the transverse cross sectional area of thirdtubular segment 112) can have a square shape, rectangular shape,pentagonal shape, hexagonal shape, octagonal shape, elliptical shape(ellipse), or some other shape.

The third cavity 114 can be sized (and/or designed) to receive ashut-off valve (not shown in FIG. 1). The axis 122 can also be thelongitudinal axis of the third cavity 114 (or the fourth tubular segment116). For instance, the longitudinal axes of the lumen 104 (or the firsttubular segment 106) and the third cavity 114 (or the fourth tubularsegment 116) can be aligned, or substantially aligned, with each other.The third cavity 114 or the fourth tubular segment 116 can have acylindrical shape, a conical shape (e.g., with increasing or decreasingdiameter along the axis 122), or at least a partially spherical shape(e.g., a non-complete spherical or oval shape with varying diameteralong the axis 122). In some implementations, the transverse crosssectional area of the third cavity 114 (or of the fourth tubular segment116) can have a square shape, rectangular shape, pentagonal shape,hexagonal shape, octagonal shape, elliptical shape (ellipse), or someother shape. The third cavity 114 (or the fourth tubular segment 116)can have a diameter greater than the diameter of the lumen 104, or moregenerally can have a breadth or cross sectional area greater than abreadth or a cross sectional area of the lumen 104 (or the first tubularsegment 102). The third cavity 114 (or the fourth tubular segment 116)can host a shut-off valve used to block or allow fluid flow through (orout of) the fluid flow tube 100. Fluid flow can access (or enter) thefluid flow tube 100 through the third cavity 114 or through the lumen104 (e.g., through the other end of the fluid flow tube opposite to thethird cavity 114).

The opening 118 can host or receive a stem (or shaft) of the shut-offvalve that, for example, mechanically couples the shut-off valve to acorresponding motor. The stem can engage a recess or a groove of theshut-off valve. The transverse cross sectional area of the opening 118can have a circular shape, elliptical shape, square shape, rectangularshape, pentagonal shape, hexagonal shape, octagonal shape, or some othershave. The one or more holes 120 a-c can receive screws, pins, or othermechanical structures to attach or fix a housing or other components tothe fluid flow tube 100. The holes 120 can include female threads orother mechanisms to hold the screws, pins or other mechanical structuresengaging the grooves 120 tight.

As discussed in further detail below, the fluid flow tube 100 caninclude one or more openings or boreholes (not shown in FIG. 1) forhosting one or more sensors or hosting electric (or other) couplings tosensors or other devices arranged, for example, within the lumen 104 orwithin the third cavity 114. For instance, the first tubular segment (ortubular structure) 102 can include an opening or borehole to receive apressure sensor (not shown in FIG. 1), an opening or borehole to host athermostat or other sensor (not shown in FIG. 1), an opening or boreholeto host electric or mechanical couplings to a check valve or a pressureregulator (not shown in FIG. 1), or a combination thereof. The sensorscan measure one or more parameters of the fluid flow tube 100 or offluid flowing within the fluid flow tube, such as temperature, pressure,or fluid flow velocity.

The fluid flow tube 100 can engage, or be coupled to, other tubularstructures or devices, such as a pipe, a nut, a fitting, a hose, thelike, or a combination thereof. The first tubular segment 102 caninclude a female or male thread (e.g., straight or tapered thread), orother mechanical structures, e.g., at a corresponding end of the fluidflow tube 100, to engage (or mechanically couple to) pipes, fittings, orother tubular structures or devices. The third tubular segment 116 caninclude a female or male thread (e.g., straight or tapered thread), orother mechanical structures, e.g., at a corresponding end of the fluidflow tube 100, to engage (or mechanically couple to) pipes, fittings, orother tubular structures or devices.

FIGS. 2A-2C show perspective and sectional views of a plumbing device200, according to example embodiments of the current disclosure. Theplumbing device 200 can include the monolithic fluid flow tube 100,discussed above with regard to FIG. 1, and a fitting 202 configured toengage the fluid flow tube 100 at a corresponding end of the fluid flowtube 100. The plumbing device 200 can also include sensor mounts 204 aand 204 b (also referred to herein individually or collectively assensor mount(s) 204) for hosting ultrasonic transducers (not shown inFIGS. 2A-2C. FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of the plumbing device 200with the fitting 202 and the sensor mounts 204 being detached from thefluid flow tube 100. FIG. 2B shows a sectional view of the plumbingdevice 200 with the fitting 202 and the sensor mounts 204 being detachedfrom the fluid flow tube 100. FIG. 2C shows a perspective view of theplumbing device 200 with the fitting 202 and the sensor mounts 204engaging (or attached to) the fluid flow tube 100.

The fitting 202 can engage the fourth tubular segment 116 at acorresponding end of the fluid flow tube 100. The fitting may have afirst portion 206 having a first diameter (or first cross-sectionalarea) to engage the fluid flow tube 100, and a second portion 208 with asecond diameter (or second cross-sectional area) smaller than the firstdiameter (or smaller than the first cross-sectional area) and at anopposite end of the fitting 202 compared to the first portion 206. Thesecond portion 208 can engage a pipe or other tubular structure. Thethird cavity 114 can receive the first portion 206 of the fitting 202 asillustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C. The depth of the first portion 206 may besized so that the first portion 206 does not come into contact with theshut-off valve within the third cavity 114. In some implementations, thefirst portion 206 of the fitting 202 can be sized to receive a portionof the tubular segment 116.

The fitting 202 can include a push-to-connect fitting where the firstportion 206 can be pushed inside the third cavity 114 of the fluid flowtube. In some implementations, a portion of the third tubular segment116 can be pushed inside the first portion 206 of the fitting 202. For apush-to-connect fitting, the fitting 202 can include a grip ring, lockclaws, lips, indents, protrusions, or a combination thereof to hold thefluid flow tube 100 or the tubular segment 116 in place. In someimplementations, the fourth tubular segment 116 may include one or moregrip rings, one or more sealing rings, lock claws, indents, protrusions,lips, or a combination thereof to hold the fitting 202 in place. In someimplementations, mechanical structures such as a grip ring, lock claws,indents, lips, or protrusions may be arranged (or distributed) among thefitting 202 and the fourth tubular segment 116 of the fluid flow tube100.

The fitting 202 can engage the fluid flow tube 100 through threads onboth sides. For instance, the end of the fitting facing the fluid flowtube 100 (or the first portion 206) can include a male thread whereasthe interior of the fourth tubular segment 116 can include a femalethread to engage the male thread of the fitting 202. Alternatively, theend of the fitting facing the fluid flow tube 100 (or the first portion206) can include a female thread whereas a portion of the outer surfaceof the fourth tubular segment 116 can include a male thread to engagethe female thread of the fitting 202. In some implementations, thefitting 202 may act as a push-to-connect fitting on one end and mayinclude a male or female thread on the other end. For example, thefitting 202 may engage the fluid flow tube 100 through a push-to-connectmechanism, and engage a pipe (or other tubular structure) through athread at the other end of the fitting 202. In another example, thefitting 202 may include a male or female thread at the first portion 206to engage another thread (e.g., female or male thread) of the fluid flowtube 100, and may engage a pipe (or other tubular structure) through apush-to-connect mechanism at the other end of the fitting 202.

The fitting 202 can be made of brass, copper, stainless steel, orplastic (e.g., acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride(PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), cross-linked polyethylene(PEX), or other type of plastic), an engineered composite material, suchas glass-reinforced plastic, or a combination thereof. The fitting 202can be manufactured using molding, welding, three-dimensional (3D)printing, another manufacturing process known in the art, or acombination thereof. O-rings, other mechanical structures, adhesive, ora combination thereof can be used with the fitting to provide a sealingand prevent fluid leakage through the connection between the fitting 202and the fluid flow tube 100.

The fluid flow tube 100 can include a thread 210 at a respective endopposite to the fourth tubular segment 116. While the thread 210 isshown to be a male thread in FIG. 2A, in some other implementations, thethread 210 can be a female thread. The thread 210 can engage anotherthread of a pipe or other tubular structure (e.g., a nut, a pipe, ahose, etc.) to be connected to the fluid flow tube. In someimplementations, the fluid flow tube 100 may engage the pipe or othertubular structures (e.g., a fitting, a hose, etc.) through othermechanisms such as push-to-connect, soldering, adhesive, or acombination thereof at the end of the fluid flow tube 100 opposite tothe fourth tubular segment 116.

The plumbing device 200 can include a pair of sensor mounts 204 a and204 b. The first cavity 106 can receive the sensor mount 204 a, whilethe second cavity 110 can receive the sensor mount 204 b. Each of thesensor mounts 204 a and 204 b can host a respective ultrasonictransducer (not shown in FIGS. 2A-2C). The ultrasonic transducers can betwo thin-film or disk piezoelectric transducers. Each of the ultrasonictransducers can transmit or receive ultrasonic signals. One ultrasonictransducer can transmit ultrasonic signals to propagate through thecorresponding sensor mount 204, into the lumen 104, and then through theopposite sensor mount 204 to be received by the other ultrasonictransducer located at the opposite cavity 106 or 110. Each of theultrasonic transducers can alternately operate as transmitter orreceiver. When the sensor mounts 204 are placed within the cavities 106and 110, the longitudinal axes of the sensor mounts 204 a and 204 b canbe aligned, or substantially aligned (e.g., forming and angle between178° and 180° or within another tolerable angle range). The alignment ofthe sensor mounts 204 a and 204 b, or the corresponding longitudinalaxes, allows for the corresponding transducers to face each other.According to such arrangement, ultrasonic signals can propagate along astraight (or substantially straight) path between the ultrasonictransducers.

When the sensor mounts 204 are placed within the cavities 106 and 110,each of the sensor mounts 204 can include a corresponding portionintruding in the lumen 104 and physically interfering with fluid flow inthe lumen 104. In particular, the portions of the sensor mounts 204indicated by the dashed ellipses in FIG. 2C reside (or are arranged)across the fluid flow path within the lumen 104. The sensor mounts 204are described in further details below.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a perspective view and a bottom view, respectively,of another plumbing device 300, according to example embodiments of thecurrent disclosure. The plumbing device 300 can include fluid flow tube302 and a fitting 304 engaging the fluid flow tube 302 at acorresponding end. The fluid flow tube 302 can be a monolithic tubularapparatus or piece. Similar to the fluid flow tube 100, the fluid flowtube 302 can include a first tubular segment (or tubular structure) 306defining a lumen 308 that acts as a fluid flow channel, a first cavity310 defined by a second tubular segment (or tubular structure) 312, asecond cavity 314 defined by a third tubular segment (or tubularstructure) 316, and a third cavity 318 defined by a fourth tubularsegment (or tubular structure) 320. The first cavity 310 can receive afirst sensor mount for hosting a first ultrasonic transducer, and thesecond cavity 312 can receive a second sensor mount for hosting a secondultrasonic sensor (not shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B). The first and secondcavities 310 and 312 can have corresponding longitudinal axesintersecting the longitudinal axis of the lumen 308. The first andsecond cavities 310 and 312 (or the corresponding axes) can be alignedwith each other at an angle α with respect to the lumen 308 or alongitudinal axis of the lumen 308. The angle α can be greater than 0°and less than or equal to 90°. In some implementations, the angle α maybe equal to 30°, 45°, 60°, or any angle between 15° and 75°. The thirdcavity 318 (or the fourth tubular segment 320) can be sized to receive ashut-off valve, and can have a diameter (or a transverse cross sectionalarea) greater than a diameter (or a transverse cross sectional area) ofthe lumen 308. The longitudinal axis of the fourth tubular segment 320(or of the third cavity 318) can be aligned (or substantially aligned)with the longitudinal axis of the lumen 308 or the first tubular segment306.

Similar to the fluid flow tube 100, the fourth tubular segment 320 ofthe fluid flow tube 302 can include an opening (or borehole) 322 forreceiving a stem of the shut-off valve (not shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B),and one or more holes (or grooves) 322 a-c (also referred to hereinindividually or collectively as hole(s) 322) for receiving pins, rods,screws, or other structures to mechanically couple a housing, electricboards, or other structures to the fluid flow tube 302. While FIGS. 3Aand 3B show three holes (or groves) 324, the number of such holes (orgrooves) 324 can be one, two, four, or other number. Also, thelocation(s) of the holes (or grooves) 324 may be arranged differently.For instance, the holes (or grooves) 324 may be arranged along a linesegment or at four corners of a square or a rectangle, instead offorming a triangular shape. The first opening 322 and/or the hole(s) 324(or corresponding longitudinal axes) can be perpendicular, orsubstantially perpendicular, to the lumen 308 or the longitudinal axisof the lumen 308.

The fluid flow tube 302 (or the first tubular segment 306) can include asecond opening (or borehole) 326, for example, for hosting a pressuresensor (not shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B). The pressure sensor can be fixedor locked within the second opening (or borehole) 326 using a femalethread at the opening 326 and a male thread at a structure associatedwith the pressure sensor, a push-to-connect mechanism (e.g., employingone or more grip rings, one or more sealing rings, lock claws, indents,protrusions, lips, or a combination thereof), adhesive, soldering, or acombination thereof. The second opening (or borehole) 326 or acorresponding longitudinal axis can be perpendicular, or substantiallyperpendicular (e.g., at an angle between 85° and 90°), to thelongitudinal axis of the lumen 308.

The fluid flow tube 302 (or the first tubular segment 306) can alsoinclude a third opening (or borehole) 328, for example, for hosting orreceiving a temperature sensor (e.g., a thermocouple), density sensor,fluid level sensor, other sensor(s), electric or mechanical couplings(e.g., electric wires) to other sensors or devices (e.g., a check valve,a pressure regulator, or other sensors) arranged within the lumen 308,or a combination thereof. The sensor(s) can be fixed or locked withinthe third opening (or borehole) 328 using a female thread at the opening328 and a male thread at a structure associated with the sensor(s), apush-to-connect mechanism (e.g., employing one or more grip rings, oneor more sealing rings, lock claws, indents, protrusions, lips, or acombination thereof), adhesive, soldering, or a combination thereof. Thethird opening (or borehole) 328 or a corresponding longitudinal axis canbe perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular (e.g., at an anglebetween 85° and 90°), to the longitudinal axis of the lumen 308 or thetubular segment 306.

The fluid flow tube 302 can include a female thread 332 (e.g., straightor tapered thread) arranged at end of the first tubular segment 306opposite to the fourth tubular segment 320 or the third cavity 318. Thefemale thread 332 can engage a male thread (not shown in FIGS. 3A and3B) of a pipe or other tubular structure. The thread 332 may be arrangedat an end of the first tubular segment 306 (e.g., a portion of thetubular segment 306 shaped as a nut), or at a swivel nut attached to thetubular segment 306. In some implementations, the end of the firsttubular segment 306 opposite to the fourth tubular segment 320 or thethird cavity 318 may engage or connect to the pipe (or other tubularstructure) via a male thread (instead of a male thread), apush-to-connect mechanism, adhesive, soldering, or a combinationthereof.

The plumbing device 300 can include the fitting 304 for engaging thefluid flow tube 302 at an end of the fourth tubular segment 320 (or anend of the third cavity 318). The fitting 304 can include a firsttubular portion (or tubular end) 334 to engage the fluid flow tube 302or the fourth tubular segment 320, and a second tubular portion (ortubular end) 336 to engage a pipe or other tubular apparatus. The firsttubular portion 334 and the second tubular portion 336 can be separatedby a ridge structure 338. The fourth tubular segment 320 of the fluidflow tube 302 can receive the first tubular portion 334 of the fitting304, for example, until the ridge structure 338 comes into contact withor engages the end of the tubular segment 320. The ridge structure 338can act as an obstruction so that only the first tubular portion 334 ofthe fitting 304 can go into the third cavity 318. The first tubularportion 334 of the fitting 304 can engage the fourth tubular segment 320of the fluid flow tube 302 via push-to-connect mechanism, threads, orother mechanical coupling mechanisms. The second tubular portion 336 ofthe fitting 304 can include a female thread 340 (e.g., a straight ortapered thread) to engage a corresponding male thread of a pipe or othertubular structure. The second tubular portion 336 of the fitting 304 canhave a shape of a nut, a cylindrical shape, or other shape.

FIGS. 4A-4C show various views of yet another plumbing device 400,according to other example embodiments of the current disclosure.Specifically, FIG. 4A shows a perspective view the plumbing device 400,whereas FIGS. 4B and 4C show two distinct sectional views of theplumbing device 400. The plumbing device 400 can include a fluid flowtube 402, a fitting 404 engaging the fluid flow tube 402 at acorresponding end, a shut-off valve 406 for blocking or allowing fluidflow within (or out of) the fluid flow tube 402, a valve stem (or shaft)408 for mechanically coupling the shut-off valve 406 to a motor (notshown in FIGS. 4A-4C), a pair of sensor mounts 410 for hostingultrasonic transducers (not shown in FIGS. 4A-4C), and a pressure sensor412 for measuring fluid pressure within the fluid flow tube 402. Theultrasonic transducers, the motor, or a combination thereof may beviewed as parts of the plumbing device 400.

The fluid flow tube 402 can be a monolithic tubular apparatus (ortubular piece) which can include a first tubular segment (or tubularstructure) 414 defining a corresponding lumen 416 through which fluidflows, a second and third tubular segments (or tubular structures) 418defining, respectively, a first and second cavities 420 for receivingthe sensor mounts 410, and a fourth tubular segment (or tubularstructure) 422 defining a third cavity 424 for hosting the shut-offvalve (e.g., a ball valve) 406. The first and second cavities 420 (orthe second and third tubular segments 418) can be aligned, orsubstantially aligned, with each other and can have a commonlongitudinal axis (or substantially aligned longitudinal axes) arrangedat an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the lumen 416 (or thefirst tubular segment 414). The angle can be between 0° and 90°, such asabout 30°, about 45°, or about 60° (considering manufacturing toleranceerror). The third cavity 420, or the fourth tubular segment 422, hostingthe shut-off 406 valve can be viewed as a continuum of the lumen 416, orthe first tubular segment 414. The third cavity 420, or the fourthtubular segment 422, can have a diameter (or a transverse crosssectional area) larger than the diameter (or the transverse crosssectional area) of the lumen 416. The fourth tubular segment 422 caninclude an opening 426 for hosting the valve stem 408. The fourthtubular segment 422 can include one or more grooves (or holes) 428 toreceive pins, rods, screws, or other mechanical coupling structures forcoupling a housing to the fluid flow tube 402.

The fluid flow tube 402, or the first tubular segment 414, can includean opening (or a borehole) 430 for receiving or hosting the pressuresensor 412. The opening 430 can have a longitudinal axis intersectingwith the longitudinal axis of the first tubular segment 414 (or thelumen 416). The fluid flow tube 402 (or the first tubular segment 414)can also include a protrusion (or ridge) structure 432 arrangedproximate to the opening 430. For instance, the opening 430 can extend,into the wall of the first tubular segment 414 beneath or contiguous tothe protrusion (or ridge) structure 432. The protrusion (or ridge)structure 432 can include one or more grooves (or holes) 434 forreceiving one or more pins, rods, screws, or other mechanical couplingstructures to mechanically couple the housing, circuit boards, or othercomponents to the fluid flow tube 402. For instance, the openings 434and the openings 428 together can receive the pins, rods, screws, orother mechanical coupling structures to mechanically couple othercomponents to the fluid flow tube 402. The number and arrangement of theopenings 428 and 434 can vary depending, for example, on the design ofthe fluid flow tube 402.

The fitting 404 can engage, at a first respective end, the fourthtubular segment 422 via a push-to-connect mechanism, a thread, adhesive,other mechanical coupling mechanism, or a combination thereof. Thefitting 404 can also engage, at a second respective end, a pipe, a hose,or other tubular structure via a push-to-connect mechanism, a femalethread, adhesive, other mechanical coupling mechanism, or a combinationthereof. The fluid flow tube 402 can connect, at a corresponding endopposite to third cavity 424, to a pipe, a hose, or other tubularstructure via a push-to-connect mechanism, a female thread, adhesive,other mechanical coupling mechanism, or a combination thereof.

The fluid flow tubes 100, 302, and 402, and the plumbing devices 200,300, and 400 describe various embodiments of apparatuses for hosting ashut-off valve and a fluid flow meter. Other embodiments, of the fluidflow tube and the plumbing device are also contemplated by thisdisclosure. In particular, additional embodiments of the fluid flow tubeor the plumbing device can be achieved by combining features describedwith respect to FIGS. 1-4B. Also, other embodiments may be achieved, forexample, by varying the number, shape(s), location(s), or arrangement ofthe grooves (or holes) for receiving pins, rods or screws to couple thefluid flow tube to other components (e.g., housing). The number andtypes of sensors (e.g., pressure sensor, thermostat, etc.) and thenumber, shape(s), location(s), and arrangement of the openings toaccommodate such sensors may vary based on, for example, various designsof the fluid flow tube or the plumbing device.

The plumbing device may be viewed as including only the fluid flow tubeand fitting, or including the fluid flow tube, the fitting, and acombination of additional components (e.g., sensor mounts, ultrasonictransducers, pressure sensor, temperature sensor (e.g., a thermocoupleor another temperature sensor), fluid level sensor, check valve,pressure regulator, shut-off valve, valve stem, motor, electroniccomponents or boards, or a combination thereof). Different versions ofthe plumbing device described herein may be manufactured depending, forexample, on the combination of sensors and components integrated intothe plumbing device.

FIG. 5 shows a respective view of an ensemble of components forming aplumbing device 500, according to example embodiments of the currentdisclosure. The plumbing device 500 can include a fluid flow tube 502, afitting 504, a shut-off valve 506, a pair of ball valve seating rings(or gaskets) 508, a pair of sealing rings (or O-rings) 510, a valve stem512, a stem O-ring 514, a pair of sensor mounts (or transducer mounts)516, and a pair of sensor mount O-rings 518.

While the fluid flow tube 502 and the fitting 504 are shown to besimilar, respectively, to the fluid flow tube 100 and the fitting 202shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, in general, any fluid flow tube and/or any fittingdescribed or contemplated with respect to any of FIGS. 1-4B can be usedin the plumbing device 500.

The fluid flow tube 502 can include a first tubular segment (or tubularstructure) 520 defining a corresponding lumen 522 for conveying fluidflow, a second and third tubular segments 524 defining, respectively, afirst and second cavities 526 for receiving the sensor mounts (ortransducer mounts) 516, and a fourth tubular segment 528 defining athird cavity 530 for receiving (or hosting) the shutoff valve 506. Thesecond and third tubular segments 524 (or the first and second cavities526) can be aligned (or substantially aligned) with each other and canhave a respective longitudinal axis intersecting with (or oriented at anangle with respect to) a longitudinal axis of the lumen 522. The fourthtubular segment 528 can be aligned with the first tubular segment 520,and the third cavity 530 can have a diagonal (or a transverse crosssectional area) larger than the diameter (or the transverse crosssectional area) of the lumen 522. The fourth tubular segment 528 caninclude an opening 532 for receiving the valve stem 512, and one or moregrooves 534 for receiving pins, rods, screws, or other mechanicalcoupling structures to couple the fluid flow tube 502 to othercomponents (e.g., housing, electronic boards, motor, or a combinationthereof).

The shut-off valve 506 can include a ball valve having a tubular cavity536 for conveying fluid through the shut-off valve 506, and a recess (orgroove) 538 to receive the valve stem 512. When rotated by the motor(not shown in FIG. 5), the valve stem 512 can engage the recess 538 torotate the shut-off valve 506. When the shut-off valve 506 is orientedsuch that the tubular cavity 536 (or a longitudinal axis thereof) isperpendicular, or substantially perpendicular (e.g., at an angle between85° to 95° or other angle range depending on the diameter of the tubularcavity 536), to the longitudinal axis of the lumen 522, the shut-offvalve 506 is closed (or at a close state), blocking fluid from passingthrough the third cavity 530. When the tubular cavity 536 (or thelongitudinal axis thereof) is arranged at an angle relative to the lumen522 (or the corresponding longitudinal axis) such that at least aportion of the tubular cavity 536 is facing the lumen 522, fluid canflow from the lumen 522 through the tubular cavity 536. Maximum fluidflow through the tubular cavity 536 can be achieved when the tubularcavity 536 (or the longitudinal axis thereof) is aligned with the lumen522 (or the corresponding longitudinal axis).

The ball valve seating rings (or gaskets) 508 and the sealing rings (orO-rings) 510, individually or in combination, can provide a seal toprevent fluid leakage between the outer surface of the shut-off valve506 and the inner surface of the third cavity 530. Also, the ball valveseating rings (or gaskets) 508 can prevent displacement of the ballvalve 506 by exerting mechanical force or mechanical pressure on theball valve 506 from two opposite directions. Specifically, when thefitting 504 is engaged (or pushed) against/into the fourth tubularsegment 528, the ball valve seating rings (or gaskets) 508 can bearranged against the ball valve 506, keeping the position of the ballvalve 506 fixed (e.g., with little or no wiggling margin). The ballvalve seating rings (or gaskets) 508 can be shaped to allow the ballvalve 506 to rotate along an axis of the valve stem 512. For instance,each ball valve seating ring (or gasket) 508 can include a respectiverecess to receive the ball valve 506. The stem O-ring 514 can provide asealing between the stem valve 512 and the opening 532 to prevent fluidleakage between the outer surface of the stem valve 512 and the innersurface of the opening 532.

Each sensor (or transducer) mount 516 can be arranged into acorresponding second cavity 526. For instance, each sensor (ortransducer) mount 516 can be pushed or screwed into one of the secondcavities 526. When arranged in the second cavities 526, longitudinalaxes of the sensor (or transducer) mounts 516 can be aligned (or atleast substantially aligned when considering manufacturing toleranceerror). The alignment of the sensor (or transducer) mounts 516, or thecorresponding longitudinal axes, allows for ultrasonic signals to travelalong straight paths (e.g., without reflecting off inner walls/surfacesof the fluid flow tube 502) between the ultrasonic transducers arrangedat the sensor (or transducer) mounts 516. Each sensor mount O-ring 518can be arranged into a corresponding second cavity 526 to provide asealing between that second cavity 526 and the corresponding sensor (ortransducer) mount 516. The sensor mount O-ring 518 can prevent fluidleakage between the outer surface of the sensor (or transducer) mount516 and the inner surface of the second cavity 526.

The ultrasonic sensors (or ultrasonic transducers) can be part of theplumbing device 500. The plumbing device 500 can also include othersensors or components, such as a pressure sensor, an inline leakdetector, a thermocouple, a density sensor, a fluid level sensor, acheck valve, a pressure regulator, or other sensor or devices. Forinstance, as discussed with regard to FIGS. 3A-3B and 4A-4C, the fluidflow tube 502 can include one or more boreholes to receive one or moresensors, such as the pressure sensor 412 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C, orelectric or mechanical couplings to sensors or devices arranged, forexample, within the lumen 522 (e.g., an inline leak detector). Forexample, an inline leak detector (e.g., an impeller-based inline flowsensor) can allow for distinguishing between false fluid flows (e.g.,detected by the ultrasonic fluid flow meter) and relatively low flowrate fluid flows that may be indicative of a fluid leak event. Inlineleak detectors can accurately detect (or measure) relatively small fluidflow rates, such as flow rates less than or equal to 0.1, 0.2 or 0.3gallon per minute (GPM).

Referring to FIGS. 6A-6C, various views of a plumbing device 600 combingan ultrasonic fluid flow meter and a shut-off valve are shown, accordingto example embodiments of the current disclosure. The plumbing device600 can include a combined fluid flow tube assembly 602, a sensorinterface circuit board 604, a dive board 606, and a motor assembly 608.The plumbing device 600 can include at least one control circuit boardsuch as control circuit boards 610 a and 610 b, referred to hereinafterindividually or collectively as control circuit board(s) 610. Theplumbing device 600 can include a housing 612.

The combined fluid flow tube assembly 602 can include a fluid flow tube(e.g., as discussed with regard to FIGS. 1-5), a fitting (e.g., asdiscussed with regard to FIGS. 2A-5), a shut-off valve, a valve stem, apair of sensor mounts (or transducer mounts), a shut-off valve, a valvestem, a pair of sensor mounts (or transducer mounts), a pressure sensor,a thermocouple, other sensor(s) or component(s), or a combinationthereof. For instance, the combined fluid flow tube assembly 602 caninclude the plumbing device 500 described with regard to FIG. 5. Thecombined fluid flow tube assembly 602 can also include electrical andmechanical components to operate the shut-off valve and ultrasonicsensors arranged within the sensor (or transducer) mounts.

The sensor interface circuit board 604 can be electrically coupled toone or more sensors associated with, or integrated in, the fluid flowtube assembly 602. For example, the sensor interface circuit board 604can be electrically coupled to the ultrasonic sensors, pressure sensor,thermocouple, inline leak detector, fluid level sensor, density sensor,density sensor, or a combination thereof. The sensor interface circuitboard 604 can include one or more power amplifiers, one or morecomparators, other electric components, or electric circuits to process(e.g., amplify, compare, filter, or a combination thereof) signalsreceived from the sensors. The sensor interface circuit board 604 can beelectrically coupled to control circuit board 610. In someimplementations, the sensors associated with the fluid flow tubeassembly 602 may be electrically coupled directly to the control circuitboard 610 (e.g., not via a sensor interface circuit board 604).

The dive board 606 can be a mechanical structure for seating the motorassembly 608 and/or the control circuit board(s) 610. The dive board 606can include bearing walls (or bearing structures) 614 to withstand theload associated with the dive board 604. Each bearing wall 614 can havea concave curved edge for engaging the fluid flow tube or the fitting.The dive board 606 can also include a plurality of posts (or rodstructures) 616 arranged orthogonal to a main planar structure of thedive board 606. Each post 616 can include a corresponding protrusion.The protrusions can be arranged to provide seating (or physical support)for the control circuit board(s) 610. For instance, the control circuitboard(s) 610 can stand between the posts 616 on the correspondingprotrusions. In some implementations, the control circuit board(s) 610include opening (or holes) to receive the posts 616.

The motor assembly 608 can include a motor (not shown in FIGS. 6A-6C)for rotating the shut-off valve (not shown in FIGS. 6A-6C) integratedwithin the combined fluid flow tube assembly 602. The motor assembly 608can be arranged on the dive board 606 above (or at a same level as) thehollow structure of the fluid flow tube enclosing the shut-off valve.Specifically, the motor assembly 608 can be arranged such that the motor(or a corresponding mechanical structure) can engage the valve stem.When actuated, the motor can cause the stem and the shut-off valve torotate by about 90° (e.g., by an angle between 85° and 95° or otherangle range around 90°) to block or allow fluid flow through the fluidflow tube. Referring back to FIG. 5, when the valve stem 512 is rotatedby the motor, the valve stem 512 can engage and exert a force on therecess 538 to cause the shut-off valve 506 to rotate and cause thetubular cavity 536 to be aligned with the lumen 522 (to allow fluid flowthrough the fluid flow tube), or orthogonal to the lumen 522 (to blockfluid flow through the fluid flow tube 502).

Referring back to FIGS. 6A-6C, the control circuit board 612 a caninclude circuitry to control or operate the transducer sensors andprocess signals obtained by the transducer sensors or other sensorsintegrated in the combined fluid flow tube assembly 602. The controlcircuit board 612 b can include circuitry to control or operate themotor. The control circuit boards 612 a and 612 b can be electricallycoupled to each other. In some implementations, the control circuitboards 612 a and 612 b can be designed or integrated as a single controlcircuit board 612.

The control circuit board(s) 612 can include an analog-to-digitalconverter (ADC), a digital-to-analog converter, DAC), one or more poweramplifiers, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor, an application specificinstruction-set processor (ASIP), a digital signal processor (DSP), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other type ofprocessor), a controller, or a combination thereof. For instance, acontroller can control electric power supplied to the motor when themotor is actuated. Also, one or more power amplifiers can amplifysignals obtained by the ultrasonic sensors/transducers or other sensorsintegrated within the combined fluid flow tube assembly 602, and the ADCcan sample such signals into corresponding digital signals that areprocessed by the processor. The DAC can convert, for example, digitalsignals provided by the processor to corresponding analog signals thatare fed to the ultrasonic sensors/transducers or other components.

The processor can cause a first ultrasonic sensor/transducer to transmitan ultrasonic signal that is received by the second ultrasonicsensor/transducer. For instance, the processor can provide a digitalsignal that is converted into a corresponding analog signal by the DAC.The first ultrasonic sensor/transducer can convert the analog signalinto an ultrasonic signal, and transmit the ultrasonic signal into thefluid flow tube. The second ultrasonic sensor/transducer can receive adelayed version of the ultrasonic signal and convert it into acorresponding analog electric signal. The second ultrasonicsensor/transducer can provide the analog signal to the ADC forconverting to a digital signal that is provided to the processor. Theprocessor can compare the received digital signal to a reference signalto determine a time delay or a phase shift between the two signals. Thereference signal may correspond to an ultrasonic signal received by thesecond ultrasonic sensor/transducer responsive to transmission ofanother ultrasonic signal by the first ultrasonic sensor/transducerduring a still state (no flow) of the fluid in the fluid flow tube. Thereference signal may correspond to an ultrasonic signal received by thefirst ultrasonic sensor/transducer responsive to transmission of anotherultrasonic signal by the second ultrasonic sensor/transducer.

The processor can determine a time delay or a phase shift between thereceived digital signal and the reference signal. For example, theprocessor can compute a cross-correlation signal between the receiveddigital signal and the reference signal, and determine the time delaybased on the location of the peak of the cross-correlation signal. Theprocessor may compute the fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) of the receiveddigital signal and the reference signal, compute the phase differencebetween the FFTs of the received digital signal and the referencesignal, and determine the time delay between both signals based on thecomputed phase difference. Depending on how the reference signal isdefined, the determined time delay can be a time delay between anupstream receive signal and a downstream receive signal (e.g., thereference signal is the downstream receive signal) or a time delaybetween an upstream/downstream signal and a zero-flow receive signal.The speed/velocity of fluid flow within the fluid flow tube can beproportional to (or a function of) the time delay between the receiveddigital signal and the reference signal. The processor can determine thefluid flow speed/velocity using the determined time delay (e.g.,according to a lookup table or using mathematical operations).

The lookup table or mathematical operation used can depend on thetemperature of the fluid within the fluid flow tube. The processor canobtain a measurement of a the fluid pressure measured, for example, bythe thermocouple, and determine which lookup table or which mathematicaloperation to use in determining the time delay based on the fluidtemperature measurement. The processor can compute the fluid flow rateusing the determined time delay or the determined fluid speed/velocity.The processor can compute fluid usage based using multiple determinedfluid flow rate values.

The processor can execute an algorithm to detect fluid leak events. Forexample, the processor can obtain indication(s) of one or moremeasurements recorded by an inline leak detector arranged within thefluid flow tube, and compare the measurements to fluid flow rate (orfluid flow speed) values determined by the processor based on receivesignals associated with the ultrasonic sensors/transducers. Theprocessor can determine existence or absence of a leak event based onthe comparison. The inline leak detector can accurately measurerelatively small fluid flow rate (or speed) values (such as flow ratessmaller than 0.3, 0.4 or 0.5 GPM). The comparison can allow theprocessor to distinguish between measurement errors associated withsignals recorded by the ultrasonic sensors/transducers from relativelysmall fluid flows due to leak events. The processor may execute otheralgorithms for detecting leak events.

Upon detecting a fluid leak event, the processor can transmit a signalto a controller of the motor or directly to the motor to trigger themotor to rotate the shut-off valve to a closed state and block fluidflow through the fluid flow tube. The processor can also monitor thecurrent state of the shut-off valve. The control circuit board(s) 610can also a memory for storing measurement values associated with varioussensors, executable instructions, or other data for use by the processoror other components plumbing device 600. The plumbing device 600 canalso include a radio transmitter (or a radio transceiver) forcommunicating with remote devices such as a Wi-Fi modem, a computerdevice, or other communication device. For instance, the processor cancause the radio transmitter to transmit measurement data obtainedthrough the various sensors to a remote server, a mobile phone, or otherdevice via a communication network.

The housing 612 can include a first enclosure (or top enclosure) 612 aand a second enclosure (or bottom enclosure) 612 b. The first and secondenclosures 612 a and 612 b can mechanically engage one another to formthe housing 612 around the combined fluid flow tube assembly 602, thesensor interface circuit board 604, the dive board 606, the motorassembly 608, and the control circuit board(s) 610.

FIGS. 7A-7C show various views of a sensor mount 700, according toexample embodiments of the current disclosure. The monolithic sensormount 700 can include a first cylindrical portion 702 and a secondcylindrical portion 704. The first cylindrical portion can have a firstdiameter D1 larger than a second diameter D2 of the second cylindricalportion. The second cylindrical portion 704 can define a recess region706 to host an ultrasonic transducer (not shown in FIGS. 7A-7C). Thesensor mount 700 can be arranged within a cavity (such as cavity 106,110, 310, 314, 420, of 526 of FIGS. 1-5) of fluid flow tube 100, 302,402, or 502.

The recess region 706 can include (or can be defined by) a mountingsurface 708 for seating the ultrasonic sensor/transducer and a wall 710surrounding the mounting surface 708. A person can place the ultrasonicsensor/transducer within the recess region 706. The ultrasonicsensor/transducer can be sealed using an adhesive. In someimplementations, the recess region can include one or more protrusionsfor locking the ultrasonic transducer within the recess region 706. Aperson can push the ultrasonic transducer into the recess region 706.Once the ultrasonic transducer is passed the one or more protrusions,the protrusion(s) can lock the ultrasonic sensor/transducer into therecess region 706.

The sensor/ultrasonic mount 700 can be positioned (or locked) in thecorresponding fluid flow tube cavity (or the corresponding tubularstructure) of the fluid flow tube through a coupling mechanism. Forinstance, the outer surface of the second cylindrical portion can define(or include) a male thread 712 to mechanically engage a female thread offluid flow tube cavity. The wall (or wall structure) 710 can include aplurality of groves 714 to mechanically receive or engage a screw driver(not shown in FIGS. 7A-7C). The depth of the grooves 714 can be smallerthan a difference between a depth of the recess region 706 and athickness of the ultrasonic transducer. In other words, when theultrasonic sensor/transducer is placed within the recess region 706, theupper surface of the ultrasonic sensor/transducer can be at an offsetdistance below the bottom of the grooves 714. Accordingly, when a screwdriver is placed in a some of the grooves 714, the screw driver does notreach or touch the ultrasonic sensor/transducer arranged within therecess region 706.

In some implementations, the recess region 706 can have a hexagonalshape sized to match an Allen key. Specifically, at least an upperportion of the recess region 706 can have a hexagonal inner shapeconfigured to receive an Allen key (also referred to as hex key). TheAllen key can engage the hexagonal portion of the recess region 706 torotate the sensor mount 700 until the male thread 712 fully, or at leastsubstantially (e.g., through more than half of the thread), engages thefemale thread of the fluid flow tube cavity. A bottom portion of therecess region 706 can have a cylindrical or other shape that matches ashape of the ultrasonic sensor/transducer.

The diameter D1 of the first cylindrical portion 702 can be smaller thana diameter of the fluid flow tube cavity (such as cavity 106, 110, 310,314, 420, of 526 of FIGS. 1-5) hosting the sensor mount 700.Specifically, when the sensor mount 700 is arranged within the fluidflow tube cavity, a clearance or a space can exist between an outersurface of the first cylindrical portion 702 and an inner surface of thefluid flow tube cavity. The clearance or space between the outer surfaceof the first cylindrical portion 702 and the inner surface of the fluidflow tube cavity prevents cross talk between the sensor mount 700 andthe tubular structure of the fluid flow tube hosting the sensor mount700. Specifically, the clearance or space can prevent the ultrasonicsignal from propagating from the sensor mount 700 to the tubularstructure of the fluid flow tube hosting the sensor mount 700, andtherefore prevent multipath propagation of the ultrasonic signals.Accordingly, the ultrasonic signals can propagate from the ultrasonicsensor/transducer along the longitudinal axis of the sensor mount 700into the fluid flow tube towards the opposite sensor mount.

The first cylindrical portion 702 can include a first sub-portion 716and a second sub-portion 718. The second sub-portion 718 can have adiameter D1 and the first sub-portion 716 can have a diameter D3 largerthan D1. The first sub-portion 716 can be arranged between the secondsub-portion 716 and the second cylindrical portion 704. In someimplementations, both D1 and D3 can be smaller than the diameter of thefluid low tube cavity hosting the sensor mount 700, such that both thefirst and second sub-portions can be separated by a clearance or a spacefrom the inner surface of the fluid low tube cavity hosting the sensormount 700.

The length of the sensor mount 700 (or of the first cylindrical portion702) can be larger than or equal to a depth of the fluid flow tubecavity hosting the sensor mount 700. Referring back to FIG. 2C, forexample, the length of the sensor mounts 204 a and 204 b can be greaterthan or equal to the depth of the cavities 106 and 110 (or the tubularstructures 108 and 112). The depth of the cavities 106 and 110 can varyalong the intersection between each of the tubular structures 108 and112 and the tubular structure 102. A portion of each of the sensormounts 204 a and 204 b (each of the portions indicated by the dashedellipses) can be arranged within the lumen 104 such that the sensormounts 204 a and 204 b are partially interfering with fluid flow withinthe lumen 104. Referring back to FIGS. 7A-7C, the first cylindricalportion 702 of the sensor mount 700 can have an end-face surface can bea flat circular area. The end-face surface 720 of the first cylindricalportion 702 of the sensor mount 700 can be a flat surface. In someimplementations, the end-face surface 720 can be a concave surface (orcan have a concave structure), for example, such that the concavesurface matches (or is aligned with) the inner surface of the tubularstructure forming the lumen of the fluid flow tube. Whether the sensormount 700 is partially intruding into the lumen or the end-face surface720 is concave and aligned with the inner surface of the tubularstructure forming the lumen, the fact that no recess is formed when thesensor mount 700 is arranged within the fluid flow tube cavity preventsresiduum from accumulating against the end-face surface 720. Suchaccumulation would be difficult to account for when determining fluidflow rate, especially that sound speed in the residuum can be differentthan that in sensor mount 700.

The monolithic sensor mount 700 can be made of plastic. For instance,the monolithic sensor mount 700 can be made of made of polyvinylchloride(PVC) or polysulfone (PSU). Using plastic to manufacture the sensormount 700 can improve the performance of the sensor mount 700.Specifically, when fluid temperature increases, the speed of sound inthe fluid also increases whereas the speed of sound within the plasticsensor mount decreases, therefore, compensating for the change of speedof sound in the fluid.

It should be understood by those within the art that virtually anydisjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms,whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood tocontemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either ofthe terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will beunderstood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

The foregoing description of illustrative embodiments has been presentedfor purposes of illustration and of description. It is not intended tobe exhaustive or limiting with respect to the precise form disclosed,and modifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosed embodiments.It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claimsappended hereto and their equivalents.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the following claims. For example, the manifolds disclosedherein may be used to monitor flow rates of fluids other than water,such as oil, gasoline, etc.

What is claimed is:
 1. A monolithic sensor mount comprising: a first solid cylindrical portion having a first diameter; and a second cylindrical portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, the second cylindrical portion (i) defining a recess region for seating an ultrasonic transducer and (ii) having an outer surface that defines a male thread to mechanically engage a female thread of a cavity within a fluid flow tube configured to host the sensor mount, the first diameter smaller than a diameter of a portion of the cavity such that a clearance separates an outer surface of the first cylindrical portion and an inner surface of the portion of the cavity within the fluid flow tube configured to host the sensor mount, the ultrasonic transducer arranged within the recess region of the second cylindrical portion when the monolithic sensor mount is positioned in the cavity.
 2. The monolithic sensor mount of claim 1, wherein the recess region forms a hexagonal socket sized to match an Allen key.
 3. The monolithic sensor mount of claim 1, wherein a length of the first cylindrical portion is larger than a depth of the cavity within the fluid flow tube configured to host the sensor mount.
 4. The monolithic sensor mount of claim 1, wherein an end-face surface of the first cylindrical portion is a flat circular area.
 5. The monolithic sensor mount of claim 1, wherein an end-face surface of the first cylindrical portion has a concave structure.
 6. The monolithic sensor mount of claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical portion includes a first sub-portion and a second sub-portion, the second sub-portion having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the first sub-portion and the first sub-portion arranged between the second sub-portion and the second cylindrical portion.
 7. The monolithic sensor mount of claim 1, wherein a wall structure surrounding the recess region includes grooves to mechanically engage a screw driver.
 8. The monolithic sensor mount of claim 7, wherein a depth of the grooves is smaller than a difference between a depth of the recess region and a thickness of the ultrasonic transducer.
 9. The monolithic sensor mount of claim 1 being made of plastic.
 10. The monolithic sensor mount of claim 9 being made of polyvinylchloride (PVC).
 11. The monolithic sensor mount of claim 9 being made of polysulfone (PSU). 